Two new exhibits are showing simultaneously at the Bowen Center for the Arts both with links to Dawson County.

There are two different parts to the show, said Marcia Chelf, director of the Center. One is the Faces of Dawson County, by Doug King. Its not a huge show, but its interesting.

King, who lives in Dawsonville, features the portraits of several Dawson County residents in his show. I always hear from people, Anything I do, I cant make a difference because Im only one person, King said. That got me thinking about people I know in the county who have made a difference. (The idea) developed from there.

King drew up a list of people in Dawson County who have made contributions to the area. The whole purpose of the project is to highlight people, and to show others in the county especially the young folks that a person can make a difference by their involvement, either with a charity or with an organization, or by what they do as a career, he said.

Hes done background stories of all of the people he photographed, and their contributions to the county, Chelf said in describing the exhibit.

King said it took a bit of convincing for the 16 people featured to agree to be a part of the exhibit. None felt they had done anything extraordinary, he said.

He said that he has had several suggestions from others in the community as to who could be featured. There were 26 people initially invited to be a part of the show, he said, so I would still love to feature the 10 who were unable to do so.

Were going to have the 16 featured in this exhibit nominate the ones for the next one, King added. ... I realize that something like this is never complete. There will always be new Faces of Dawson County who bring about positive change in our community, and make Dawson County a great place to call home.

The exhibit features citizens like Margie Weaver, director of the Dawson County Senior Center, and Helen Taylor, local philanthropist and columnist. Others include Dave Hinderliter, Lanier Swafford and Claudia Gibson.

The second show is titled Photo Imagery, which displays photographs by Big Canoes Brian Osgood.

I use two to three different techniques on these pictures, Osgood said.

Osgood captured some of the images on display using a Diana camera, a plastic-bodied camera that utilizes 120-roll film, according to a news release on the event. This particular type of camera creates blurred focus, which adds an artistic effect to the photographs.

Osgoods exhibit shows photos featuring a variety of topics, but most involve scenery from various places.

Both exhibits are now open to the public, and will run through June 30. A reception is planned for this Saturday, June 9, at the Center. The reception for Kings exhibit is scheduled for 1-3 p.m., while Osgoods reception will be 2-4 p.m.